74318
                                        Republic of Madagascar

        Emergency Support to Critical Education, Health, and Nutrition Services Project

                                    SUMMARY OF DISCUSSION ∗

                              Meeting of the Executive Directors of IDA

                                              November 29, 2012


       The Executive Directors approved the credit to the Republic of Madagascar for an
Emergency Support to Critical Education, Health and Nutrition Services Project in the amount of
SDR 42.2 million (US$65 million equivalent) on the payment terms and conditions set out in the
President’s Memorandum. The minutes will record that Mr. Solomon wished to be recorded as
opposing (IDA/R2012-0281).
         The Executive Directors endorsed the objectives of the project which would support
critical interventions in education, health and nutrition in some of the poorest regions of the
country to mitigate the negative impacts of the humanitarian crisis. They also highlighted the
importance of preserving critical service delivery and implementation mechanisms that have
been built up over several years prior to the crisis. Directors expressed concerns about the
project’s risks including implementation during a period of political transition, the need to
strengthen governance and the rule of law. They stressed the need to focus on sustainability of
the project activities, close monitoring and capacity building – including greater community
engagement - in order to ensure that the project benefits reach the intended beneficiaries.
Directors also highlighted the need to improve donor coordination at the sector level and the
importance of developing long-term strategies for the health and education sectors.




∗
    This summary is not an approved record.